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Office Catering

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workplace-dining

Workplace Dining: The Delicious New Perk at Work

What happens to lavish office perks in a post-pandemic world? Unlimited vacation, casual dress codes, foosball tables, hammocks, nap rooms and video games may attract millennials and Gen Z to a workplace—but they may not “nourish” employees enough. As CNBC reports, free food is still the perk that attracts top talent most often. Food is a great motivator for influencing productivity, engagement, and community. Simply put, the more edible benefits available to your team, the more excited they’ll be to come to work. In fact, the free-food-at-work trend was cited back in 2018, when a Society for Human Resources Management report noted that the percentage of employers offering free food had grown from 20% in 2014 to 32%. The trend continues. A recent survey by Knight Frank Research listed onsite food and beverage as the #1 planned amenity among top facilities companies. It concluded: “As companies rebuild themselves, employee wellbeing is particularly

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food is love

Corporate Essentials Is Partnering With Fooda

NJ & NYC’s premier office refreshment leader partners with workplace food program, Fooda, to launch Food Is Love.   PARSIPPANY, NJ (December 4, 2019) – Corporate Essentials announced today they are partnering with Fooda, a technology-driven workplace food program. This partnership extends Corporate Essentials’ reach in the Greater New York City market, allowing companies to access seasonally-inspired catered meals directly in their offices.   What Is Fooda?   Fooda, also known as a “virtual cafeteria” for your office, connects local restaurants and caterers with nearby offices to bring fresh, quality food to employees. Companies using Fooda for their office can choose to bring in food from a variety of vendors so employees aren’t limited to options within walking distance of work. This adds a convenience factor where employees can spend their lunch enjoying their food and connecting with each other, rather than searching for a quick bite nearby. Fooda believes

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Everything You Need to Plan a Summer Work Party

Everything You Need To Plan a Summer Work Party

If you’re planning an outdoor summer work party, you’ve come to the right place! New Jersey’s warm weather this past weekend was a great reminder of just how good it feels to spend quality time outdoors. No matter the reason(s) you decide to plan a summer work party, getting employees out of the office and into the sunshine can have a positive effect on their happiness and mental health. Here is everything you need to plan a summer work party! An additional piece of advice – don’t forget to pack a bottle of sunscreen or two. Consider Your Objective & Identify the Audience What do you hope to accomplish with this event? Is it a method of reinforcing teamwork and build camaraderie amongst employees? Or simply a way to show appreciation for the staff? When you’ve identified the reasons for holding a work party, it’s important to have an idea

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Alex Seidel

Introducing May’s James Beard Award Winning Chef: Alex Seidel

In recent years, Americans have become increasingly conscious of the contents of the food we consume, placing a large emphasis on the sourcing of ingredients. 2018 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southwest, Alex Seidel, strongly believes in responsible sourcing methods. His seasonally inspired recipes using fresh, flavorful ingredients match well with Martin + Fitch’s mission to bring locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients to the world of office catering. Corporate Essentials is thrilled to offer signature recipes created by Chef Alex Seidel this month through our Featured Chef office catering program.   Culinary Journey From an early age, Seidel knew he wanted to be a chef. His culinary career began at fourteen, working his way up to sous chef at Racine’s Main Street Bistro at twenty. Alex left his home state of Wisconsin to receive formal training at Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon. He finished at the top of his

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Martin + Fitch

“Spring in the Mediterranean” Martin + Fitch Seasonal Menu

Corporate Essentials’ very own catering company, Martin + Fitch, has a seasonal workplace menu that is sure to please. This spring, the seasonal menu follows a Mediterranean approach. Appropriately titled “Spring in the Mediterranean” this limited-time menu offers a number of choices that should convince employees to leave their bagged lunches at home. As the name implies, Mediterranean food is inspired by meals created in countries surrounding the Mediterranean sea. Some of these areas include Italy, Morocco, Israel, Greece, Turkey, and Spain. But what exactly makes up the contents of this cuisine? Well, it turns out that it’s up to a level of interpretation due to a broad range of food origin. Despite this, a pattern meal consistency can be identified. The Mediterranean Cuisine According to QSR Magazine, a number of dishes share common ingredients, including olive oil, lemons, wheat, chickpeas, grapes, and non-native tomatoes. “The terms may differ,” said

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Vishwesh Bhatt

Introducing April’s James Beard Award Nominated Chef: Vishwesh Bhatt

Critically-acclaimed chef Vishwesh Bhatt has been delighting the taste buds of restaurant-goers in Oxford, Mississippi for ten years with his venture under the City Grocery Restaurant Group umbrella, Snackbar. This upscale, French bistro marries the local southern cuisine with influences from Bhatt’s Indian roots. The result is a menu that receives two thumbs up from foodies everywhere. Corporate Essentials is pleased to offer signature recipes by Chef Bhatt this month as a part of our Featured Chef office catering program with Martin + Fitch.   Culinary Experience   Vishwesh Bhatt moved from Gujarat, India in 1985 with his family after spending some time in France. One thing he found consistent between his time in college and graduate school at Ole Miss was his distaste for dining hall food. Cooking became a huge part of Vishwesh’s life as an effort to save money and make food that he actually enjoyed eating.

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Tiffani Faison

Introducing March’s James Beard Award Nominated Chef: Tiffani Faison

Tiffani Faison has taken over Boston’s historic Fenway neighborhood with her critically acclaimed trio of restaurants, Sweet Cheeks Q,  Tiger Mama in Boston, and Fool’s Errand. Her 2018 and 2019 nominations from the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef in the Northeast are no surprise given her wide range of culinary skills, innovative style and ability to create delicious new twists on classic dishes. Corporate Essentials is pleased to offer signature recipes created by Chef Faison this month as a part of our Featured Chef office catering program with Martin + Fitch.   Culinary Experience   Early in her career, Tiffani honed her craft under chefs Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse, and Todd English. In 2006 she made a name for herself when she was cast in the first season of Bravo’s Top Chef, placing as runner-up. Faison used that momentum to propel herself into prestigious kitchens around the country: Nantucket, New

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nina compton

Introducing January’s James Beard Award Winning Chef: Nina Compton

As one of the culinary capitals of the United States, New Orleans is known for food rich in flavor and amazing restaurants are just around every corner. This month, Corporate Essentials is pleased to offer signature recipes created by the 2018 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef in the South, Nina Compton. Her unique cuisine is inspired by her Caribbean roots, and combines flavorful, local ingredients abundant in New Orleans, with French techniques. Find her featured recipes offered this month as a part of our Featured Chef office catering program with Martin + Fitch. Culinary Training Nina Compton was born and raised on the tiny island, St. Lucia, in the Caribbean. After attending high school in England, she returned home and decided to go after her dream of becoming a chef. Nina’s parents supported her pursuit and helped arrange an internship for her to learn at a friend’s hotel

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How Corporate Catering Can Improve Your NJ or NYC Office

There are so many practical benefits to having corporate catering tend to your NJ or NYC company’s office refreshments and food needs. It’s convenient, easy, and adds lots of variety. But what can corporate catering services do for the bigger picture of your office team? How do simple things such as breakroom snacks and drinks or delivered cold brew drive sales? Can they boost morale and aid in productivity? The research shows that yes, it is these tiny details that make all the difference. Here are five reasons you may want to call corporate catering to your NJ or NYC offices stat. 1. Improved Employee Morale Is it a stressful month, full of reports, extra meetings or overtime? Sometimes, all your employees need are incentives. They could be so concerned about doing their jobs well that they don’t give much thought to packing quality lunches and snacks. Sure, you may

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Gavin Kaysen

Introducing December’s James Beard Award Winning Chef: Gavin Kaysen

Soulful chef Gavin Kaysen captivates the taste buds of Minneapolitans with his award-winning restaurant, Spoon & Stable and its modern American cuisine. Corporate Essentials is honored to offer signature recipes created by the James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Midwest as a part of our Featured Chef office catering program with Martin + Fitch this month. Culinary Experience After graduating from the New England Culinary Institute in 2001, Gavin immersed himself in learning French techniques in some of the world’s best restaurants. Following an internship at Domaine Chandon in Napa Valley, he spent time in Switzerland at L’Auberge de Lavaux, and L’Escargot in London before settling in San Diego as Executive Chef at the AAA 4-Diamond Restaurant, El Bizcocho, where he was named one Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs”. In 2007, Chef Kaysen left San Diego and moved across the country to become Chef Daniel Boulud’s chef

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Everything You Need to Know About NJ Corporate Catering

NJ Corporate catering service may be among the most valued perks for modern-day employees. Seventy-five percent of employees who have access to meals and snacks at work are “happy” or “very happy” with their employer, according to data cited by AllWork. Sixty percent of talent consider complimentary food offerings to be among the top three possible perks they can receive from an employer. In 2018, the state of employee engagement is among the greatest risks employers must face. Recent studies reveal that disengaged workers could cost organizations as much as $550 billion annually, and up to 70 percent of the U.S. workforce is actively disengaged. With 40,000 unfilled job openings statewide and a shortage of qualified applicants, New Jersey is suffering from the talent crunch. Organizations that are wise consider offering perks to their employees in return for dividends in employee morale and engagement. A great way to do this

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corporate lunch catering nyc

Why Your Employees Will Love Corporate Lunch Catering in NYC

In today’s talent market, the most skilled employees have more of a choice than ever in regard to where and how they work. Retention rates are suffering at many organizations, as a recent Dice survey explains that 40 percent of workers are ready to switch jobs to attain better pay or a happier work environment. In 2018, 43 percent of employees have reported that they are looking for these better work conditions. HR expert Nate Swanner writes “perks may prove critical,” especially in non-compensation offerings that allow employees to know their contributions are valued. Increasingly, organizations are turning to lunch catering as a way to communicate care and appreciation to their talent. The 2018 SHRM Employee Benefits read 32 percent of organizations now provide free food and beverages on-site, a 12 percent increase since 2014. Corporate lunch catering in NYC is a benefit both employer and employees can enjoy, paying

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